9 Everyday Places Where Germs Lurk

Today's Health Tips

9 Everyday Places Where Germs Lurk

By Krisha McCoy, MS

Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

everydayhealth.com 

Surprising Things That Could Make You Sick

If you've been feeling under the weather, you may be surprised to learn that your co-worker's cough is not the only thing that can make you sick. Germs and irritants can hide in everyday objects, from your eye makeup to the vacuum cleaner.

 

You know to cover your mouth when you sneeze and cough, stay away from people who are sick, and wash your hands frequently. Most illnesses, including colds and the flu, are spread from person to person through droplets from coughs or sneezes. But sometimes other things can make you sick. Find out how objects you encounter on a daily basis may be harming your health, and what you can do to stay healthy.

 

Pillows

If you have unexplained allergy or asthma symptoms, you may be surprised to learn that your favorite pillow may be to blame. This is because pillows tend to harbor dust mites, the most common cause of non-seasonal allergies and asthma. Dust mites feed on flakes of human skin, which can be found deep within your pillows. If you are allergic to the mites and their waste products, they could be the cause of your symptoms. To reduce your exposure to dust mites, a healthy habit is to cover your pillows with zippered, dust-proof covers to keep any existing mites in and keep new ones out.

 

Eye Makeup

You many not realize that misusing eye makeup can put your health at risk, leading to an eye infection or injury. When you share eye makeup or use it for too long, it can become contaminated with bacteria or fungi. To avoid getting sick, wash your hands before applying eye makeup, avoid sharing it or using shared samples at cosmetics counters, and discard eye makeup — especially mascara — after two to four months.

 

Computer Keyboards

Dirt and bacteria can find many places to hide, and one common place is your computer keyboard. Researchers have found that work desktops have 21,000 germs per square inch, compared with 49 germs per square inch on office toilet seats. In addition to your desk and phone, things that make you sick can include your computer's keyboard, a likely place to pick up germs, since you touch it so often. To stay healthy at your desk, wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your mouth and nose, and use an alcohol-based sanitizer to clean your keyboard.

 

Perfume

If you experience a skin irritation or other skin problems, it could be that a perfume you are using is the cause. Fragrance is added to many products to make them smell good, but the more than 5,000 perfumes that are used in products are the No. 1 cause of skin problems. If you have sensitive skin or suspect a perfume is irritating your skin, avoid getting sick by avoiding cologne and scents of any kind and look for products that are marked "fragrance-free" or "without perfume."

 

Cleaning Sponges

Although they are meant as tools to keep your house clean, sponges are actually some of the dirtiest objects in your home. Sponges, especially those used in the kitchen, are thought to be a major contributor to foodborne illness. This is because sponges provide an ideal environment for bacteria to flourish. To help prevent the spread of bacteria, practice the healthy habit of using paper towels or clean dishcloths (which can be tossed in the washing machine after use) instead of sponges.

 

The Vacuum Cleaner

If you have allergies or asthma, regular vacuuming can help prevent or reduce symptoms by reducing levels of airborne allergens. But if you are using the wrong vacuum cleaner, it can make your allergies or asthma worse by actually distributing allergen particles into the air. Reduce your exposure to allergens and stay healthy by asking someone without allergies or asthma to vacuum, by using a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filter, or by wearing a double mask when you vacuum.

 

Swimming Pools

In most pools, chlorine is used to kill germs and prevent the spread of illness and infection. But chlorine doesn't always help you avoid getting sick — people who are exposed to contaminated swimming pool water may develop gastrointestinal symptoms, skin problems, respiratory trouble, or eye, ear, or other infections. To help reduce the risk of illness from swimming pool contamination, don't get pool water in your mouth or swallow it and, to protect others, get into the healthy habit of taking a shower with soap and water before diving in and avoiding swimming if you have diarrhea.

 

Shoes

Since you walk around in them all day, dirty shoes can pick up and carry germs, pesticides, and other toxins, all of which can make you sick and affect the health and development of growing children. To cut down on the number of germs and toxins that are brought into your home from the outside, ask family members and guests to take off their shoes or wipe them on a mat before coming in.

 

Fingernails

Fingernails are notorious for harboring dirt, germs, and other infectious organisms, such as pinworms. People who do not practice good nail hygiene are at risk of becoming ill from the germs found under their fingernails or of developing a nail infection. To stay healthy, keep your fingernails clean and trimmed short, scrub under your nails with a nail brush when you wash your hands, don't bite your nails, avoid cutting your cuticles, and make sure any grooming tools used on your nails are sanitized.